Press brake aid tool

ABSTRACT

Work locating devices for use on a press brake to facilitate positioning of a flat or shell-like workpiece on the fixed die under the movable die of the press brake, the workpiece having an indicia which is to be located in a predetermined orientation with respect to said movable die. The device comprises a pair of guide members, each of which have a wedge-shaped end with the apex thereof being centrally located on the device. The devices are supported on the fixed die on opposite sides of the workpiece with the apex of one of said devices opposite one end of the indicia on the workpiece and the apex of the other of the devices opposite the other end of the indicia on the workpiece whereby the indicia is aligned in predetermined orientation with respect to the movable die.

United States Patent 191 Gagner PRESS BRAKE AID TOQL [76] Inventor: Joseph L. Gagner, PO. Box i406,

Los Gatos, Calif 95030 [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 463,119

[52] US. Cl 33/180 R [5|] Int. Cl. ..G0lB 11/27 [58] Field of Search 33/180 R l8| R. 280, 227.

Primary E.\'aminer-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant E.\'aminer-Michael H. Thaler Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ben J. Chromy; Gerald L Moore [451 Aug. 5, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT Work locating devices for use on a press brake to facilitate positioning of a flat or shell-like workpiece on the fixed die under the movable die of the press brake, the workpiece having an indicia which is to be located in a predetermined orientation with respect to said movable die. The device comprises a pair of guide members each of which have a wedge-shaped end with the apex thereof being centrally located on the device. The devices are supported on the fixed die on opposite sides of the workpiece with the apex of one of said devices opposite one end of the indicia on the workpiece and the apex of the other of the devices opposite the other end of the indicia on the workpiece whereby the indicia is aligned in predetermined orientation with respect to the movable die.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PRESS BRAKE AID TOOL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a work locating device for use with a press brake.

An object of this invention is to provide a work locating device for the press brake to help in set-up and/or braking of workpieces without the aid of set-up, said device being usable in a vee die or in an open air die with the aid of an attached bracket.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved work locating device for use with a press brake, said device comprising a square block specially machined to a sharp edge on one end and with a cutout on one or both sides of the other end, the cutouts allowing the tool to be used in notches in the workpiece as may be required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved work locating device for use with a press brake, said device comprising a square block having one end cut square with means to guide a bracket attached thereto and hold said bracket square and with the sharp edge at the other end of the block positioned to locate the workpiece with respect to the open air die.

By laying the work locating device of this invention in the vee of the die, the knife edge of the device is vertical in the center of the vee and at the top of the vee where it is needed to locate the workpiece with reference to the vee of the die. The template or workpiece to be broken is marked with a line designating the center of the bend. The workpiece is then layed on the vee in the brake and the center of bend line is lined up with the knife edges of the locating devices at opposite ends of the bend line. In the case of the template, it is then snugged down with the punch in the brake and a set-up can be made around it, as desired. In the case of a prototype part, it can then be broken without a set-up, or a set-up can be made around it if required.

The knife edges of the work locating devices at opposite ends of the bend line can be aligned with the line visually with a great degree of accuracy, easily within 0.005 inch under the center of braking die in the press brake.

The open air die represents a special problem and for this purpose a bracket is provided to hold the work locating device vertical and square with the basic braking surface (top of die). By loosening the screw which holds the bracket on the device, the device can be pressed down to engage the edges of the open air die. The knife edge of the device is then vertical and in the center of the open air die. From here on the procedure is the same as with a vee die.

Further details and features of this invention will be set forth in the specification, claims and drawing in which briefly:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two of the work location devices of this invention positioned in the vee of the lower die of a conventional press brake with the workpiece shown positioned between the work locating devices;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one of the work locating devices of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a work locating device of this invention provided with a bracket so that the device may be used with an open type bottom die; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 5 with the bracket attached thereto.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numeral 10 designates a conventional V-type die provided to a press brake and this die is provided with an upwardly facing V-shaped recess in which the work locating devices 11 and 12 are positioned on opposite sides of the workpiece 13 which is in the form ofa plate and which is supported on the top surface of the fixed die 10. The plate I3 is provided with leg-ends or indicia I4 and I5 along which this plate is to be bent by the movable press brake die (not shown) which is provided to the conventional press brake and which is adapted to move downward against the plate 13 to bend this plate into the V-shaped recess provided to the fixed die 10. The work locating devices I] and 12 are of square crosssection and each of these devices is provided with bottom faces such as the faces 11a and llb which are disposed at an angle with respect to each other that is the same as the angle subtended by the V-recess of the die 10. Thus, the work locating devices 11 and 12 fit accurately into this recess of the die. The forward ends of the devices 11 and 12 are of wedge-shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, however. both ends of these devices may be of wedge shape if desired. The edge of the wedge is straight and relatively sharp and extends diagonally across the device so that when the device is placed in the recess of the die 10 the bottom of this forward edge is accurately located in the bottom of the recess and extends vertically so that this edge accurately locates the indicia 14 of the plate 13 over the bottom of the recess when this indicia is aligned with the edge of the wedge. The indicia 15 of the plate 13 is also located directly over the bottom of the recess of the die when this indicia is aligned with the front and the vertical sharp edge of the wedge of the device 12. The workpiece or plate 13 is thus accurately located on the fixed die l0 so that when the movable die of the press brake is brought down on the plate, the plate will be bent into the recess of the die 10 accurately along the indicia l4 and 15.

The ends of the work locating devices I l and I2 need not be wedge-shaped as all that is necessary is that a sharp line that may be vertically positioned on the fixed die 10 is what is required in locating the workpiece on the die. Thus. portions of the work locating devices may be cut away from opposite sides of the vertical work locating line as shown in FIG. 2. In this case the work locating device is provided with a narrow portion, the front end of which is provided with the accurate work locating line. This type of device is useful where, for example, the indicia 14 may be positioned in a recessed part of the plate 13 so that the work locating line on the device has to be inserted into this recessed part of the plate in order to locate the plate accurately on the die 10.

Where work is to be shaped on a press brake die that is open such as the die 16 shown in FIG. 6 which is provided with an opening 16a then the work locating device 17 is provided with a bracket 18 to facilitate locating the device 17 properly with respect to the opening 16a of the die. The outer end of the work locating device I7 is provided with a threaded hole 19 for receiving the bolt 20 which is provided to hold the bracket 18 attached to the end of the member 17. The bracket 18 is provided with a slot 18a for receiving the bolt 20 and this slot permits adjustment of the bracket with respect to the end of the device 17. This end of the device is also provided with two parallel grooves 21 which are adapted to receive the projections 22 provided to the bracket 18. The purpose of the grooves 21 and the projections 22 is to keep the bracket 18 properly aligned with respect to the device 17 so that when this device is placed on the die 16 the front fine guide edge or line of the device 17 will be vertical with respect to the cavity 16a of the die. For this purpose the bottom sides of the bracket )8 rests on top of the die 16 and prevents the device 17 from slipping with respect to the opening 16a of the die. Thus, when the bracket 18 is attached to the end of the device 17 it holds the device with the front guide line in vertical position centered in the cav ity 16a.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of variation from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

I. Work locating devices for use on a press brake to facilitate positioning of a flat or shell-like workpiece on the fixed die under the movable die of the press brake, said workpiece having an indicia which is to be located in a predetermined orientation with respect to said movable die, the improvement comprising a pair of guide members, each of said members having a pair of faces at one end thereof, said faces forming a wedgeshape with the apex thereof being centrally located on the member, said members being supported on said fixed die on opposite sides of said workpiece so that the apex of one of said members is opposite one end of the indicia on the workpiece and the apex of the other of said members is opposite the other end of the indicia on the workpiece so that the indicia is aligned in predetermined orientation with respect to said movable die.

2. Work locating devices as set forth in claim I, further characterized in that one of said pair of faces of at least one of said members is substantially smaller than the other said pair of faces and a portion of the member adjacent said smaller face is recessed to permit the apex to be inserted into an indented side of the workpiece.

3. Work locating devices as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a bracket member, said bracket member having a pair of parallel projections, one of said guide members having a flat end with a pair of parallel grooves for receiving said projections of said bracket, means for holding said bracket member on said flat end, said bracket member engaging the fixed die of said press brake and orienting said one of said guide members thereon. 

1. Work locating devices for use on a press brake to facilitate positioning of a flat or shell-like workpiece on the fixed die under the movable die of the press brake, said workpiece having an indicia which is to be located in a predetermined orientation with respect to said movable die, the improvement comprising a pair of guide members, each of said members having a pair of faces at one end thereof, said faces forming a wedge-shape with the apex thereof being centrally located on the member, said members being supported on said fixed die on opposite sides of said workpiece so that the apex of one of said members is opposite one end of the indicia on the workpiece and the apex of the other of said members is opposite the other end of the indicia on the workpiece so that the indicia is aligned in predetermined orientation with respect to said movable die.
 2. Work locating devices as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that one of said pair of faces of at least one of said members is substantially smaller than the other said pair of faces and a portion of the member adjacent said smaller face is recessed to permit the apex to be inserted into an indented side of the workpiece.
 3. Work locating devices as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a bracket member, said bracket member having a pair of parallel projections, one of said guide members having a flat end with a pair of parallel grooves for receiving said projections of said bracket, means for holding said bracket member on said flat end, said bracket member engaging the fixed die of said press brake and orienting said one of said guide members thereon. 